The Minnesota Wild, 14-1-1 in their past 16 games, have the second-best record in the Central Division and the Western Conference, four points behind the Chicago Blackhawks. They look to continue their success at Xcel Energy Center, where they are 8-1-0 in their past nine games and 13-4-0 this season. This will be Minnesota's first game at home since a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jackets on Dec. 31 that ended their franchise-record 12-game winning streak. "It's great to be here for a solid game and then we're back on the road," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Next month we get our chance to be at home. Every team goes through it … it all evens out at the end." The Wild will play eight of their 12 games in February at home. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk will start. He is 12-1-0 with 26 goals allowed in his past 13 starts. Forward Eric Staal has five points (two goals, three assists) in a three-game point streak, and 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in his past 13 games, including points in 12 of those 13. "I didn't think at 31 [years old] he could have lost it," Boudreau said of Staal. "There had to be some other reasons and particulars that he wasn't playing very well in Carolina, and lucky enough we think that he's been rejuvenated here and he's having, so far, a really good season."
